Search form

Search

On-Campus Employment

Overview

Your F-1 student status permits you to work on campus at the university that issued your I-20 while you are enrolled in a full course of study. Your UW I-20 is your proof of work eligibility for on-campus employment at UW only. You must maintain F-1 status to be eligible for this employment benefit; maintaining status means that you are a full-time registered student (except for approved exceptions) in good academic standing with a valid I-20.

Definition of “On-Campus” Employment

Work performed in a campus location for a commercial firm providing direct services to studentsExample: University Bookstore branch in the HUB (but not on the Ave)

Employment at an off-campus location which is educationally affiliated with the UW. The educational affiliation must be associated with your academic department's established curriculum or related to contractually funded projects at the post-graduate level, and be an integral part of your educational program.ISS interprets this to mean that the employment itself must be an integral part of your established curriculum. This particular definition of on-campus employment is very rarely applied. Given the size of UW and its various connections with many local and national organizations, it can be challenging to determine if this definition is applicable. Please consult ISS for guidance.

Time Limits

You are allowed to work:

part-time (20 hours per week or less) during your regular full-time quarters (quarter dates are set by the UW academic calendar and include finals week).

Graduate students: if you have a teaching or research assistantship, this reaches the 20-hour-per-week limit to on-campus employment. If you have an opportunity for additional employment on campus, you must consult your primary ISS adviser about additional work authorization.

Expiration of On-campus Employment Eligibility

Your on-campus employment eligibility ends:

When you graduate. It expires the last day of your final quarter (per UW calendar), even if your I-20 expiration date is in the future.

If you transfer to another university; your work authorization expires on the day of your SEVIS record release date.

If you violate your F-1 status.

Work Study

Some campus jobs are designated as “work study” positions. The job description might include a statement such as: “position open only to UW students who qualify for work study awards.” Work study awards are part of federal financial aid packages and are only available to U.S. citizens and permanent residents. As an F-1 student, generally you are not eligible for a work study position and should not apply.

However, there are some cases where the term “work study” might be used in a more general sense and not necessarily refer to a financial aid award. You can contact the office that posted the job opening to confirm whether or not you must have a work study award to be eligible for the job.

Finding a Campus Job

Set up an account in the UW Career Center’s Husky Jobs. This database advertises both on-campus and off-campus jobs. Filter your search to only look for on-campus jobs. On-campus jobs are also advertised on flyers posted around campus—in elevators, office bulletin boards, etc.

Your Responsibility: Know the Rules

It is your responsibility to research and understand your on-campus work eligibility. It is generally not the job of UW staff outside of ISS to thoroughly know the immigration regulations. It is possible you will be offered employment that you are not eligible to accept or for your employment eligibility to expire without your payroll coordinator notifying you. Be sure to review all information provided by ISS and consult ISS if you have any concerns or questions.

Hours of Operation

Drop-In Advising

Monday–Friday: 10am - 4pm

News & Updates

Taxes!
It is tax season. To help make tax filing easier, ISS provides access to a free online tax preparation service, GLACIER Tax Prep, designed for F-1 and J-1 nonimmigrants. Access GLACIER Tax Prep through the ISS website. See "How to File."

Tax Scams
We’ve been made aware of a phone scam targeting our international students. The caller informs the student that taxes are owed and threatens arrest. The call may sound legitimate because the caller provides an “officer” name and badge number, or offers to transfer the call to someone posing as a consular official.

The legitimate Internal Revenue Service does not collect funds by phone. If you receive such a call, do not provide any bank information. You can check with us in ISS if you have concerns or questions.